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Poor response to HBV vaccination and strategies to enhance immunogenicity
Author(s) -
CHANG MEIHWEI
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2004.03663.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vaccination , hbsag , immunology , immunogenicity , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis b , immune system , fulminant hepatitis , population , hepatitis b vaccine , hepatitis b immune globulin , virology , hepatitis , virus , environmental health
Hepatitis B vaccination has been proved to be effective in preventing acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, fulminant hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Approximately 5 to 15% of infants and at least 5 to 10% of most healthy adult population failed to produce protective levels of antibodies to HBV vaccination. The main causes of poor response to HBV vaccination includes intrauterine infection, vaccine escape mutants, genetic hypo‐or non‐responsiveness to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and immune compromised host. Strategies to enhance immunogenicity to HBV vaccination are as the following: (1) overcome intrauterine or perinatal transmission by antiviral therapy for high risk pregnant women during last trimester, or immediately after birth with HBV hyperimmune globulin for the neonates; (2) higher dosage or more doses of HBV vaccine; (3) better vaccines ; (4) enhance host immune status; (5) better compliance of the vaccines. In conclusion, current hepatitis B vaccination has been proved to be effective in controlling acute and chronic HBV infection and its complication. Yet further efforts to improve its efficacy generally and in high risk subjects and in immune compromised hosts are needed.